News & Media

Media Release

Date: 27 August 2019

Wanted – five new Public Governors for the RUH

The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust is looking for five new Public Governors to help shape its services and plan for the future.

The vacancies, created by the current five Governors coming to the end of their term of office, are in the City of Bath, Mendip, South Wiltshire, North Wiltshire and North East Somerset.

Alison Ryan, Trust Chair, said: "I have worked with Governors for the last six years and found their insight and challenge invaluable and I want that to continue.

"We're looking for members of the public, patients and anyone who has an interest in shaping our services for the benefit of the community to consider becoming a Public Governor. We welcome candidates who have time, energy, enthusiasm and a strong desire to be involved who will make enthusiastic ambassadors for the hospital."

Nick Houlton, who is standing down as a Public Governor for North East Somerset, said: "I've really enjoyed my time in the post, having conversations with members of the public and taking their opinions, ideas and sometimes frustrations back to the Board of Directors. I also very much enjoyed constituency meetings where I and colleague Helen Rogers were able to hear from members we wouldn't otherwise meet in order to make a difference to our healthcare services."

The role of a Governor is to help ensure that the Trust delivers services that meet the needs of patients, carers, staff and local stakeholders, and that the views of local people are heard and fed back to the Board of Directors.

Nominations open on Thursday 29th August and will close at 5pm on Monday 16th September.

You need to be a member of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust to be eligible to stand in the elections. No formal qualifications are required.

How to request a nomination form

From 29th August you will be able to request a nomination form directly from UK Engage via the details below:

The poll opens on Tuesday 1st October and voting will run until 5pm on Thursday 24th October.

The results will be announced on Friday 25th October 2019.

For more information about the elections process and becoming a member please contact the Membership Office on 01225 821262 or email: RUHmembership@nhs.net

ENDS

Notes to Editor

The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust provides acute treatment and care for a
catchment population of around 500,000 people in Bath, and the surrounding towns and villages in North East Somerset and Western Wiltshire. The hospital provides healthcare to the population served by four Clinical Commissioning Groups: Bath & North East Somerset CCG, Wiltshire CCG, Somerset CCG and South Gloucestershire CCG.

The Trust has 759 beds and a comprehensive range of acute services including medicine and
surgery, services for women and children, accident and emergency services, and diagnostic and
clinical support services.

In 2015 The Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust acquired the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) NHS Foundation Trust. The RNHRD treats patients from across the country offering services in rheumatology, chronic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome/ME, cancer related fatigue and fatigue linked to other long term conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

The RUH is changing - we have an exciting programme of redevelopment underway transforming our site and further improving the services we provide. The Trust is building a purpose built RNHRD and Therapies Centre and is now working towards a new Dyson Cancer Centre. For more details visit: www.ruh.nhs.uk/fit4future